Pembrokeshire

Not to be confused with the wild and uninhabited Broad Haven on the Castlemartin peninsula, this little town just over the hill (or round the cliffs at low tide) from Little Haven, has a few shops, pubs, and accommodation. It provides an ideal base if you are looking for a traditional seaside holiday but equally it is conveniently located for excursions to St. Davids, Haverfordwest, or Milford Haven. (Nowhere north of the Cleddau River is convenient for visiting Pembroke or Tenby as it invariably means a lengthy detour to cross the magnificent Cleddau Bridge at Neyland).

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Caldey Abbey is the home of Cistercian Monks who farm this tiny island off the coast of Tenby and make the famous Caldey Island perfume and chocolate. There is also a medieval priory, lighthouse, post office/museum, gift shop and tea garden - as well as a glorious sandy beach, pleasant walks and spectacular views.

There are regular boat trips from Tenby Harbour Easter to October, Monday to Friday, and Saturdays in June, July and August. Sailings start at approximately 9.30 am subject to weather conditions. Phone 01834 842296 or 01834 844453 for more details.

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This charming little village stands on the Carew River, which is a tidal creek of the Daugleddau estuary and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest However, Carew's biggest attraction stands alongside the river the evocative ruin of its imposing medieval castle which, in addition to its historical, architectural and archaeological importance is also said to be haunted by two ghosts.

It is now managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and close by is the 11th century Celtic Cross and the restored Carew tidal mill, the only one of its kind in Wales still intact.

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The Castlemartin Peninsula is about 8 miles from Pembroke town. This is an area of spectacular coastal scenery, and the Green Bridge of Wales, Stack Rocks, St Govan's Chapel and Bosherston Lily Ponds are popular sites for visitors to the area.

As well as the dramatic coastline, the area is renowned for the colonies of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, choughs and other species which nest along the cliffs and rock formations.

As certain areas of the Peninsula are restricted due to a military presence it would be advisable to contact one of the local Tourist Information Centres for details of firing times.

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Cilgerran is a straggling village 3 miles upstream of St Dogmaels, founded at the same time as its spectacular Castle by Roger de Montgomery, one of William the Conqueror's commanders at the Battle of Hastings. The magnificent site of the Castle above Cilgerran gorge has inspired many artists over the years including JMW Turner and Richard Wilson.

The annual Coracle Races in August are a major event and well worth a visit.

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Now one of the most frequented water sports centres in the district, Dale was once a prosperous port trading far afield - even at one time exporting ale to Liverpool. Historically, Dale can claim fame as the spot where in 1485 Henry Tudor landed on his return from exile in France, en route to his defeat of Richard lll at Bosworth Field.

Dale has two beaches - the one in the village faces on to the waters of Milford Haven, ideally sheltered for dinghy sailing or windsurfing (lessons available locally). The other beach at West Dale faces out to sea and Skokholm island. This beach is cleaner and sandier but is not ideal for bathing due to currents. In summer, it can be a sun-trap but the walk up the steep steps from the beach make it unsuitable for the elderly or infirm.

Those interested in second world war history may not realise how many war-time airfields lie in this part of Pembrokeshire. As you drive round the one-way system in the village you eventually come to Dale Castle (private) but turning left to go round the back of the castle takes you up on to the old Dale airfield.

At present, the perimeter track and main runways are still there and they provide easy access to the cliffs at the top of Marloes Sands. From here you can see Gateholm, Skokholm and Skomer islands and in the distance, on a clear day, the white-topped island of Grassholm, home to a huge gannet colony (no prizes for guessing what the white top is made of!). For information about trips to the islands, contact Dale Sailing Co Ltd on 01646 601636.

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Fishguard is a major ferry link between Pembrokeshire and Rosslare in Ireland which boasts a new high-speed catamaran and excellent new terminal facilities.

It has provided the setting for several films (including Moby Dick and Under Milkwood). It was also here that the last invasion of Britain took place in1797 and the town houses a tapestry depicting scenes from the battle. The annual popular music festival held in July/August is a major visitor attraction.

Also worth a visit is the new Ocean Lab in Fishguard.

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Medieval Haverfordwest is Pembrokeshire's administrative heart and is dominated by its castle. With the town's riverside shopping and leisure facilities, it is the gateway to the County's beautiful unspoilt west coast

From the Middle Ages Haverfordwest was a flourishing port. Today it is a hive of activity again thanks to a modern and attractive shopping development overlooked by a medieval castle founded prior to 1120. Just out of town is Scolton Museum and Country Park where you can stretch your legs and visit the Museum too.

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There are two major attractions here - a beautiful sandy cove popular with surfers and families alike, and a very well preserved medieval castle standing sentinel over the bay.  The castle, 12th century in origin, is complete to its battlements. It was never attacked by the rebellious Welsh or decried by Cromwell's force, and over a period of 250 years the de Barri family developed it as a fortified baronial home rather than a fortress.

Gerald de Barri, born at Manorbier castle in 1146, is the village's most famous son. A distinguished medieval writer and man of many talents, he was known as Gerald of Wales. Several of his works are still in print today. Gerald was not the only writer to find inspiration in Manorbier: George Bernard Shaw spent several months here and Virginia Woolf was a regular summer visitor.

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Developed as a new town and whaling port by the Quakers in the late 18th century, Milford Haven's new investment in tourism has seen the docks reshaped into a superb 150-berth marina and a host of visitor attractions including; the exciting Kaleidoscope Discovery Centre, go-karts, adventure playground, nature trail, 9-hole golf course, pleasure boat trips, an impressive Dockside Gallery and museum.

The town also has first-class sports and leisure facilities at The Meads Leisure Centre; its famous Torch Theatre attracts star performers and Milford Haven 18-hole Golf Course is only a mile out of town.

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Narberth provides the setting for ancient folk tales of the Mabinogion and, in the Dark Ages, this was the home of the Welsh Princes of Dyfed.

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Newport is of Norman origins and its castle stands today, but there is evidence of human settlement as early as Mesolithic times. The town lies on the lower slopes of Carn Ingli, where, it is said, St. Brynach communed with angels.

The nearby ancient Preseli Mountains afford spectacular views from their summit and are, perhaps, the most magical part of Pembrokeshire. Neolithic man lived here, and his places of worship - stone circles such as Gors Fawr near Mynachlogddu and his cromlechs, or burial mounds, such as Pentre Ifan, still stand watch over the countryside.

It was from these Preseli Mountains that the famous bluestones were taken to Stonehenge, an incredible feat of engineering involving transporting 8-tonne stones along rivers and overland to Salisbury Plains. In 1995, a ready-cut bluestone was discovered in the river near Milford Haven, where it had presumably tumbled off its barge on the long journey to Wiltshire 4000 years ago.

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The castle at Pembroke is one of the most magnificent castles in Wales. The birthplace of Henry Vll, it dominates this most charming single street 'walled town' with its spectacular location and is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Wales.

Every year the medieval 'walled town' of Pembroke and its Castle are the venue for many important events several of which are rooted in the town's historic past such as Shakespearean productions, medieval banquets, military tattoos and displays by the Sealed Knot Society.

Two miles away is Pembroke Dock, which boasts excellent boating and watersports facilities, complemented by Neyland's marina, on the opposite side of the Estuary. Pembroke Dock is an important ferry port, operating daily sailings to Rosslare in Ireland. A golf course, also welcomes green fees. The Martello Gun Tower is a themed Visitor Centre, which traces the history of the unique network of defences along the Milford Haven waterway and Western Approaches.

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Saundersfoot is a fishing village and popular seaside resort attracting many visitors each year. Located at the foot of a picturesque wooded valley its appeal is due to the superb sandy beaches and the attractive harbour, which provide unrivalled opportunities for watersports, beach games, fishing and simply messing about in boats.

Saundersfoot also provides easy access to Amroth where the beach is the starting point of the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Nearby is Colby Woodland Gardens, owned by The National Trust.

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This is an attractive and picturesque little village with a small sheltered harbour, a variety of small shops selling crafts, clothes, etc., pubs & eating places. Solva stands in a deep valley gouged out by water melting from glaciers and its position made it ideal as a base for trading ships in the 18th century.

When the tide is in, the valley fills slowly with water but when the tide goes out, the boats are left high and dry - ideal in the past for unloading cargoes. Today, apart from a few local fishermen, the harbour is used only by pleasure craft.

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The charm of St. Davids lies in the fact that it is a small attractive village now with full city status. Visitors flock to St. Davids as they did in the Middle Ages when it was a place of pilgrimage. The Cathedral is still the major object of attraction. Nearby Whitesands Bay is a regular winner of the prestigious European Blue Flag award.

The Cathedral and ruins of the once magnificent Bishop's Palace are marvels of medieval architecture and the highlight of every summer is St David's Cathedral Festival held in May - an annual celebration of classical music and the chance to see the most historic and revered building in Wales.

Attractions include a marine life centre; a sea aquarium, adventure boat trips to the offshore islands and an incomparable 9-hole links golf course.

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Almost at the mouth of the River Teifi, on the southern side opposite Cardigan, stands St Dogmaels. It is essentially a seafaring village, as examination of headstones in the churchyard will testify. The remains of an Abbey founded by Robert Fitz-Martin in the 12th century are worth a visit. Poppit Sands a little further down the estuary has a beautiful and extensive beach which denotes the start (or the end!) of the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

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The historic and pretty harbour dates from 1328 and is probably one of the most photographed locations in Wales. Nowadays, it is a thriving activity centre for pleasure, fishing and passenger cruise boats.

The resort of Tenby perches spectacularly on a promontory within Britain's only Coastal National Park. North Beach regularly Flies the European Blue Flag in recognition of Its excellent water quality, beach management and visitor amenities. Tenby has also provided the setting for several costume dramas including "Basil" starring Christian Slater in 1997 and "Vanity Fair".

Two top class eighteen hole golf courses; a new leisure centre; an award winning museum and a variety of other visitor attractions on its doorstep are reasons why a visit to the historic walled town of Tenby should not be missed.

The harbour is administered by Pembrokeshire County Council and offers limited visitor berths. For full details of all services, activities and charges contact the Harbourmaster, on 01834 842717.

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